Mt. Tam Air Rescue of Hiker, Dog

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With well-marked and heavily trafficked trails, it's hard to get lost on Mount Tamalpais -- yet people somehow manage.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter rescued a hiker and his dog from a trail on Mount Tamalpais Sunday evening, officials said.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office requested helicopter assistance to find the hiker after the 47-year-old man from Marin County called authorities from his cell phone at about 5:30 p.m., officials said.

The man called for assistance when he realized that he was in need of help and was improperly dressed for the cold weather, officials said. The hiker was dressed in shorts and a long-sleeved shirt, and the temperature was dropping especially under the canopy of trees.

Because of the trees and thick underbrush, the CHP Helicopter 32 was unable to find the hiker after combing the area for about 30 minutes, officials said.

The helicopter crew was able to narrow down the man's location using his directions to sheriff's office dispatchers, which were relayed to the flight crew.

The helicopter crew lowered a paramedic to medically evaluate the man, who was uninjured, and prepare him to be hoisted into the helicopter, officials said.

The paramedic packaged the man and his chocolate Labrador Retriever, Rocky, in a rescue harness that was hoisted into the helicopter, according to the CHP.

Rocky and his owner were safely taken to a command post.

CHP officers applaud the man for recognizing that he needed help.

Officers said Rocky appeared fine after his first, and hopefully last, helicopter flight.

This was the second Marin County rescue today for the CHP's air operations unit based out of the Napa Airport.